Fashion’s story is like a rollercoaster ride through time, full of twists, turns, and unexpected trends.


Fashion has continuously evolved; with each period influenced by cultural shifts, technological advancements, and societal changes, fashion tells a narrative of creativity, expression, and innovation. As we go through the 2020s, we find ourselves embracing both the nostalgia of past trends and the comfort-driven styles of today. Who knows what’s next? Let’s buckle up and see where the fashion rollercoaster takes us!

1910s


At the beginning of the decade was the rise of Orientalism with The Ballets Russes which performed Schéhérazade (a ballet based on One Thousand and One Nights) in Paris in 1910.

The outbreak of World War I pushed the need for practicality even more. Women worked in munitions factories for the war effort, so they began to wear utilitarian clothing.


1920s


The 1920s are often remembered as the Age of glitz, jazz, and glamor. However, despite this, the twenties were also marked by simplicity and practicality. Because after the end of the Great War, women wanted more minimalistic and comfortable clothing. Which meant no more corsets, crinolines, bustle skirts, and other pieces characteristic of the Victorian era.
The new popular fashion trend was “the flapper look”, also known as “la garçonne”, a boyish look.

Sportswear became even more acceptable to wear for women during this decade. Elsa Schiaparelli, Coco Chanel, and Jean Patou are regarded as the main designers to revolutionize women’s sportswear.

1930s


Women’s fashion softly transitioned from the boyish look of the previous decade into the feminine silhouette of the early thirties. One of the most important trends was the bias cut, a technique that allows the fabric to drape over the body

In addition, the cinema of the 30s and specifically Hollywood had a great impact on fashion. Movie stars like Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, and Bette Davis, among others, became some of the first Hollywood style icons.

1940s


With the outbreak of World War II that led to a shortage of materials and rationing, fashion became practical with uniforms for men and women who served during the war, and utility clothing for other citizens. A common look had padded shoulders, cinched waist, and hemlines below the knee.

After the war, Christian Dior introduced his iconic “New Look '' in 1947, which was a groundbreaking design, much ahead of its time with the cinched-in waist and embodied full skirt. The fashion world had never seen such elaborate designs, using an abundance of fabric to create his lavish, elegant look to celebrate women; it was unheard of to use so much fabric in a time pre-war was full of rationing. But Dior wanted to celebrate life after the war and embrace women’s beauty and femininity encouraging joy and extravagance again.

1950s


After years of war marked by rationing and rather strict and sober silhouettes, women had the desire to dress up and look stylish. And so, the 50s were characterized by feminine and elegant silhouettes, with cinched waists and full dresses and skirts.

The 50s brought Dior, Balenciaga, and Chanel as the leaders of Paris couture. However, the way they revolutionized women’s fashion is radically different.

1960s


In the early years of the decade, fashion continued along the lines of the 1950s.

The mid of the decade was known as the
"Swinging Sixties" - a cultural phenomenon focusing on youth, spotlighting music and fashion.

Designers understood the needs of modern women by creating clothes that felt liberating, daring, and fun while staying practical, and often they questioned conventional gender norms.

The first revolutionary design was the miniskirt whose invention is credited to both Mary Quant and André Courrèges.
It was also the era of futuristic fashion, as designers were inspired by space travel and technology.

By the late 1960s, fashion began transitioning towards the hippie aesthetic which was a way of rejecting mainstream fashion. Yes, although it's the 70s that are associated with the hippie look, it actually appeared in the late 60s.

1970s


The decade saw a wide range of popular fashions. Of course, the hippie style was in vogue, particularly with the prairie dresses that were incorporated into high fashion collections.

Later in the decade, the hippie style left room for the glamorous looks of "the disco era"

Finally, sportswear made, once again like in the early decades of the 20th century, its entry into women's fashion. It was mostly popularized by Norma Kamali with her iconic "Sleeping bag coat", sweats, and a "Parachute" collection of dresses and jumpsuits.

1980s


The 80s was a decade of cultural transformation
and the expression of individuality. People were no longer afraid to be who they were, and that mentality was reflected in their fashion choices.
They like extravagant styles, bold colors, and accessories were a must. Neon clothes and jumpsuits were a thing, too.

The increasing popularity of fitness seen in iconic movies like"Dirty Dancing" and
"Flashback" inspired off-the-shoulder sweatshirts, sport shorts, spandex, leggings, leg warmers, and headbands.

Music in the 1980s had a great influence on fashion: pop music (big hairstyles, glitter makeup, lots of jewelry); punk (tartan clothing, Doc Martens, leather, and fishnet); and Hip Hop (loose fitting jeans, sneakers, etc.).

1990s


The beginning of the 1990s was the peak of the Supermodel era.

The sportswear looks of the eighties continued into the early nineties with biker shorts, leggings, Keds, and oversized sweatshirts continuing to be favorite choices for young
women.

Then, fashion towards a more casual style of dressing and minimalism. The slip dress was the biggest fashion trend. The supermodels were replaced by the "heroin chic" models, a type of model epitomized by Kate Moss.

The three main subcultures of the 90s were Grunge fashion (loose-fitting, worn-out jeans, flannel shirts, Doc Martens, and chunky boots), the preppy style (oversized shirts, high-waisted jeans, plaid mini-skirts), and Punk (black leather jackets, ripped jeans, choker necklaces).

2000s



Fashion at the rise of the 21th century was similar to the one in the late 1990s. But due to globalization and the rise of fast fashion, affordable clothes inspired by runway designs can now be found in department stores.

Moreover, celebrities and characters from TV shows such as The OC, One Tree Hill, and Gossip Girl were the style icons of the decade and influenced many people.

Fashion was also marked by the rapid development of technology, which translated into fashion. The Matrix movie in particular inspired a few designers like Balenciaga, Calvin Klein, and Yves Saint Laurent to use almost exclusively black for their Fall 2001 collections.

The predominant looks of the decade were the bohemian (or boho) look that replaced the grunge look of the nineties (vintage and handmade clothing was in vogue), hip-hop, streetwear, Y2K, scene, emo, and athleisure wear. These different subcultures of the 2000s influenced fashion in different ways.

2010s



Throughout the 2010s, many women wore workout gear not just for sport, but as casual everyday wear. This style that emerged in the previous decade with the tracksuit and came to be known as athleisure continued during the 2010s.

Although before it was celebrities who partly dictated the trends, in the 2010s, it was fashion bloggers and influencers due to the rise of social media.

There was also a return to maximalism from the 1980s. A pivotal moment was in 2015 when Alessandro Michele took over as creative director of Gucci and brought bright colors and bold textures to the collections.

Finally, besides the trends themselves, the 2010s brought a bigger focus on sustainability issues. Both consumers and companies began to speak about the impact of fashion on the environment, and the working conditions of factory workers.

2020s


The outbreak of Covid had a long-lasting impact on fashion. People adopted cozy and practical clothing, and activewear became a fashion trend again. The value of comfort persisted after the lockdown, so the minimalism of the 90s resurfaced.

The 2020s also brought back trends characteristic of other decades, like mini dresses and skirts from the 60s, and the Y2K trend from the 2000s. Let's see what the next years of the decade will bring.


To dive deeper into the wild world of fashion history, make sure to check the timeline for a closer look at all the trends that rocked the runway (and the streets). It's a fashion flashback worth taking!